Microcredit has been changing people's lives and revitalizing
communities since the beginning of trade. Currently microentrepreneurs use
loans as small as $100 to grow thriving business and, in turn, provide their
families, leading to strong and flourishing local economies. The year of
Microcredit 2005 calls for building inclusive financial sectors and strengthening
the powerful, but often untapped, entrepreneurial spirit existing in communities
around the world.

Kofi
Annan, UN Secretary General "The great challenge before us is to address the constraints
that exclude people from full participation in the financial sector.
Together, we can and must build inclusive financial sectors that
help people improve their lives."